Close-Up: In moments of crisis, people need culture

Today we are facing a global crisis unlike any we have seen this century. Thousands of people have lost their lives to COVID-19 and many more have been infected. Billions of people are now confined to their homes around the world. Those who cannot work from home ’ doctors, nurses, emergency personnel, people who work in essential services like supermarkets and pharmacies, and sanitation workers, just to name a few – are putting their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and healthy. Healthcare systems in even the wealthiest of countries are straining under the pressure of this global pandemic. Economically, socially and psychologically, the impact of COVID-19 will likely be felt long after this sanitary crisis is over.